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The English Civil WarCavaliers and Roundheads

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Background Information

Queen Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603) was popular with the people and this time was known as “The Golden Age” of England.

After her death conflict arose between the crown and Parliament.

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James I (ruled 1603-1625) .James was the first Stuart King. He was the

son of Mary, Queen of Scots. .James believed in the Divine Right of Kings. .James spent a lot of money and was constantly

asking Parliament for more money. .James ended the war with Spain and paid war

repayments. .James tried to marry his son to a Catholic

Spanish princess.

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James I (ruled 1603-1625) .James was against the

Puritans and threatened to “harry them out of the land.”

.1607 – Jamestown, Virginia was established as the first permanent English colony in America.

.1611 – The King James Version of the Bible is printed.

.1620 – The Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock.

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Charles I (ruled 1625-1647) .Married a Catholic. .Dissolved Parliament after not

getting all the money he wanted to wage a war on France and Spain.

.Forced landowners to “loan” him money or loose their land and be jailed.

.Forced people to house soldiers in private homes.

.Set up martial law, or rule by the military.

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Charles I (ruled 1625-1647) .Recalled Parliament in 1628

to get more money. The Petition of Right put

four limits on the king .No taxes or loans without

Parliament’s consent. .No prison without just

cause. .No quartering without

consent of the homeowner. .No martial law except in

time of war.

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Charles I (ruled 1625-1647)

.Charles dissolves Parliament again. .Charles makes William Laud the Archbishop of

Canterbury. .Persecution of the Puritans. .The Great Migration –1630-1643 over 1,000,000

Puritans migrate to the American colonies.

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The Short Parliament .Charles tries to force the Scots

to join the Church of England, starting a war with Scotland.

.The Scots invade England. Needing money to supply the army, Charles recalls Parliament.

.After three weeks, Charles dissolves this Parliament – The Short Parliament.

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The Long Parliament .Still needing money,

Charles recalls Parliament again. This Parliament sits for 20 years – The Long Parliament.

.The Irish rebel against Charles.

.Charles arrests five leaders of Parliament who disagree with him. The English Civil War begins.

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The Civil War The English Civil War broke

out in 1642. Cavaliers supported the king Roundheads supported

Parliament. Oliver Cromwell led the New

Model Army (England’s first Redcoats) to victory.

Most of the army was made up of Puritans.

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The Commonwealth Cromwell purges Parliament of

all who do not support him. The Rump Parliament.

Charles I is beheaded, 1/30/1649.

Parliament abolishes the monarchy and the House of Lords and declares England a republic, called the commonwealth.

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Dictatorship

Cromwell dispersed the Rump Parliament by force.

Cromwell sets up a military dictatorship.

Cromwell rules as a dictator for nine years.

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Restoration After the death of Oliver

Cromwell in 1658, his son comes to power shortly, but has no support from the army.

In 1660, Charles II is made king of England. The Church of England

becomes the official church. Puritans and Catholics are

persecuted.

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James II When Charles II died in 1685, his

brother James became king. James was a Catholic which upset

the Anglicans who controlled Parliament.

James’ two daughters, Mary and Anne, were Protestant.

In 1688, James had a son. James was going to raise him as a Catholic.

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The Glorious Revolution William of Orange and his

wife Mary (James II’s daughter) are invited to England to be King and Queen.

James flees to France. With almost no bloodshed,

the “Glorious Revolution” replaced one king with another.

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The English Bill of Rights (1689)

William and Mary signed a Bill of Rights. Parliament had the right to make laws and levy

taxes. Standing armies could only be raised with

Parliaments consent. Right of citizens to bear arms. Right to a jury trial.

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Conclusion

The English Civil War, Commonwealth, Restoration, and Glorious Revolution made an England where the king would never rule by divine right, but by the consent of Parliament.

This period in English history influenced the colonies in America who would later rebel against the king.